Examiner publisher: Ex buying Bay Guardian story “not true”

San Francisco Examiner President and Publisher Todd Vogt told The Chronicle Thursday evening that a story that the Ex is buying the San Francisco Bay Guardian is “not true.”

The East Bay Express broke the news Thursday afternoon that, based on two unnamed sources, the Examiner had purchased the Bay Guardian, the 46-year-old progressive, alternative weekly. The Express soon backed off that a bit, saying the Ex was “clos(ing) in” on a deal.

Guardian executive editor Tim Redmond told the Express Thursday “that he’s ‘very optimistic’ the deal will be inked soon. ‘I think we’ll probably sign a deal, but it’s not yet done,’ he said.” Redmond made similar comments to the SF Weekly, a rival alternative weekly, but has not returned messages from The Chronicle.

In an e-mail responding to a question about whether the story about the Ex buying the Guardian was true, Vogt wrote to The Chronicle: “It’s not true. Haven’t bought anything. I’m not even in The City. Though we would look at any publication that is for sale — which is just about every print product. Thanks.” Earlier, he told SF Weekly that news that a deal was imminent was “very optimistic.”

Vogt did not respond to a question about whether a deal was in the works.

Guardian publisher Bruce Brugmann, an award-winning First Amendment and free speech crusader, has not responded to e-mail and voice mail messages, nor to a note left near the front door of his home. The person answering the phone at one of his favorite Potrero Hill haunts Thursday evening said he wasn’t there, but had been there for lunch Thursday “for a meeting.”